It is hard to beat the exhilaration of skiing or snowboarding down a mountain on a perfect piste, but even the best conditions are not without risks and winter sports accidents are a common occurrence.
As with any holiday, you are entitled to expect that reasonable standards of care will be taken in ensuring your safety when you are skiing or snow-boarding. This includes fellow holiday-makers who need to look out for other people on the piste. Even for more adventurous activities such as heli-skiing, cat-skiing or off piste or free-riding, properly trained and insured instructors should follow clear protocols for risk management.
If sufficient care was not taken and you have been injured as a result, you may have the right to claim compensation, particularly if the activities were not properly supervised and managed.
Circumstances which may indicate an inappropriate standard of care, include when:
The accident might be the fault of another skier or snowboarder, a tour operator, ski instructor or guide, or ski facilities operator. They should all have insurance to cover an accident claim.
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We offer a free initial consultation.
We will tell you if we think you have a good case and if we can help you.
We will not use your information for any other purpose.
In the UK, you must make a claim within three years of the date of the accident.
In the EU, different countries operate different laws. We will advise you of any time limits once we know the details.
The solicitors at Pierre Thomas have a strong reputation for recovering compensation for holidaymakers injured in countries across Europe, from minor injuries to fatal cases and those involving severe brain, spinal or other injuries.
Recent cases involving skiing and snowboarding include:
As our name suggests we have strong links with France and have particular expertise in accidents in French speaking countries. We have solicitors who speak French fluently, and can pursue claims in France directly if this is the only jurisdiction available or if it is more advantageous for a particular case.
We also have solicitors who speak Spanish and German, and we handle compensation claims for holiday accidents throughout Europe.
In addition, we act for UK and European skiers and snowboarders who have had accidents in resorts elsewhere: such as in the USA and Canada.
We will explain your options at the outset in regard to any legal fees. If you have a good case, we can offer you a conditional fee agreement so that do not have to pay anything up front and your claim will not cost you anything if you lose. This is sometimes known as a ‘no win, no fee’ arrangement.
As soon as liability for the accident is established, or if your opponent admits that they are liable, we obtain a medical report from an independent doctor describing the nature of your injuries and how they affect your ability to lead a normal life.
Your claim is then valued by comparison with the amounts awarded by the courts to people with very similar injuries in accordance with the law applicable to your accident, which may be the law of the country where the accident happened or English law, depending on the circumstances of the case.
We will be able to give you some idea of this amount before you decide whether to pursue the claim.
You can also claim reasonable financial losses and expenses which result from your injuries, such as loss of earnings, rehabilitation costs, modifications to your home and compensation for the loss of enjoyment on your holiday.
We offer a free initial consultation.
We will tell you if we think you have a good case and if we can help you.
We will not use your information for any other purpose.
